Strap-holder for trunks



Na Model.)

A. E. MCDONALD. STRAP HOLDER FOR TRUNKS.

No. 483,264. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

VW B. W j 0 a 8 INVENTORI WW m-Ax UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEa ALEXANDER E. MCDONALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STRAP-HOLDER FOR TRUNKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,264, dated September 27, 1892.

Application filed April 22, 18921 To whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER E. MCDON- ALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Strap- Holders for Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for securing a trunk-strap removably to the trunk, whereby the surreptitious removal of the strap while the trunk is in transit or in storage is prevented.

It is well known to all travelers that trunkstraps are often removed from trunks while in transit by porters, baggagehandlers, and others, and stolen; and the object of the present invention is to provide the trunk with a holder or detainer for the strap which will effectually prevent the removal of the same by unauthorized persons, but will permit of the ready removal of the strap by any one having access to the interior of the trunk, and also a fastening which will not puncture or otherwise cut or injure the strap.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features carefully clefined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, serving to illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk provided with a strap and one of my improved holders in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder in its preferred form detached and on a large scale. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through the said holder and the side of the trunk, the strap being in cross-section. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view taken at right angles to the plane of the section seen in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another variety of the holder that will be hereinafter described.

A in Fig. 1 represents a trunk of any kind whatever, and 13 represents an ordinary trunkstrap provided with a buckle b. In case the strap is left otherwise unattached to the trunk it may be removed by simply unbuckling it, and if it be nailed or screwed permanently to the trunk it will be in the way while the trunk is being used.

I provide a holder C, which secures the strap to the trunk, but which may be released from the inside of the trunk, so as to set the Serial No. 430,178. No model.)

strap free. This holder 0, as represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4:, consists, as herein shown, of a clamping-plate 0, having two studs 0, which project from its inner face near its ends and have screw-threaded bores in their extremities to receive securing-screws 0 The side or wall a, Figs. 3 and 4:, of the trunk has holes bored through it at the proper distance apart to receive the studs 0, which latter are inserted as seen in Fig. 3, and the screws screwed into the respective studs from the inside of the trunk. The strap 13 passes between the studs and between the inner face of the plate 0 and the side act the trunk, and the plate 0 is made to press the strap tightly against the trunk by drawing it up with the screws.

In order to guard against the possible slipping of the strap under the plate 0, I prefer to roughen the latter where it bears on the belt. This may be done by forming rows of slight protuberances c on the inner face of the plate.

To prevent the screws from cutting into the soft material of the trunk, I prefer to provide the holder with a washer-plate a the application of which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is preferable to apply the holder 0 to the side of the trunk, as in that case it can be reached more conveniently for unscrewing the screws 0 and releasing the strap; but it may be placed at any point desired--as, for example, on the bottom, as indicated by dotted lines at a; in Fig. 1.

It is not absolutely essential that the screwfastening of the holder shall be constructed as in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The studs 0 may have reduced screw-threaded extremities, which project into the interior of the trunk and are there provided with nuts. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 5.

In my strap-holder the two studs 0 on the clamping-plate 0, here shown as integral with the plate, and the screw-fastenings serve to draw the plate up against the strap, and as the studs do not pass through the strap the latter is not cut and weakened. by loosening the clamp or holder the strap may he slipped through it without actually removing the holder.

I contemplate manufacturing and selling Moreover, IOO

my holders independently of the trunk, but when in use it will always be connected with the trunk, and by trunk I mean any boxlike receptacle in the nature of a trunk and requiring a strap.

Having thus described my invention, I

clairn 1. A holder for securing a strap removably to a trunk without puncturing or injuring the strap, said holder comprising a clampingplate 0 to press on the strap, provided with two studs 0' to pass through holes in the trunkwall at the respective edges of the strap, and screw-fastenings for securing the said plate removably to the trunk from the inside of the latter and for causingthe clamping-plate to press on the strap, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a trunk and a strap to embrace it, as described, of a holder for said strap, comprising a plate 0, which extends across and bears on said strap, two studs 0', integral with said plate and spaced to leave room for the strap between them,

said studs extending through holes in the trunk-wall, and screw-fastenings at the inner ends of the respective studs for drawing the plate 0 and causing it to press forcibly on the strap, as set forth. a

3. A holder 0 for securing a. strap remove-V ably t0 atrunk, the same comprising a clamping-plate 0, provided with studs 0, having sockets in their extremities to receive the screws 0 and the said screws. 

